(ANN/KOREA HERALD) – As tensions continue to escalate on the Korean Peninsula, a recent survey reveals that only about one in seven South Koreans would be willing to fight in the event of war.
The survey, conducted by the Korean National Defence University in 2023 and released on Thursday by opposition Democratic Party of Korea Representative Hwang Hee, found that just 13.9 per cent of the 1,200 respondents aged 18 to 75 indicated they would join the military effort.
This marks a significant decline from 22.7 per cent in 2014 and 20.9 per cent in 2020.
Despite the low willingness to participate directly in combat, 48.2 per cent of respondents expressed a readiness to support the military from a distance, the highest level recorded since the survey’s inception in 2014.
Additionally, 27.3 per cent said they would seek safety within the country, while 3.2 per cent indicated they would consider leaving South Korea altogether.
Concerns about national security remain high, with 41.6 per cent of those surveyed expressing worry. Among them, 38.9 per cent reported being “somewhat concerned,” while 2.7 per cent stated they were “very concerned.” Conversely, 28.7 per cent regarded the security situation as “stable.”
Notably, the percentage of those expressing concern increased by 10.7 percentage points from 2022, while those viewing the situation as stable dropped by 9.8 points.
